PULLMAN, WA – The City of Pullman is claiming that Administrator Mike Urban has resigned something the veteran municipal leader says is completely false.
The city issued a press release Tuesday morning stating that officials were “saddened to report” that Urban had resigned effective Monday. Urban tells Pullman Radio News that he has not resigned saying, “This comes as a surprise. I heard from staff I resigned. I believe I would know if I resigned.”
Urban was placed on paid administrative leave for three weeks this spring for allegations that were definitely proven to be false. The city used a third party investigator to examine text messages that were falsely attributed to Urban from the Washington State Patrol probe into the city’s former police chief. Jake Opgenorth was placed on paid administrative leave in December and eventually resigned over an extramarital affair. His former mistress claimed that Opgenorth raped her and those allegations were dismissed in civil court. The investigator into Urban’s leave found that Opgenorth used Urban’s name to hide contact information for his mistress on his phone.
On April 17th the City of Pullman announced that they were “pleased to welcome” Urban back to work. That announcement exonerated Urban from the false allegations and Mayor Francis Benjamin noted the profound toll the claims extracted from Mike and his family.
Urban tells PRN that when he was placed on leave he was told to call and check in with city hall every morning which he says he did. Urban points out that he never received a return to work letter from the city allowing him to go back to city hall and resume his duties. His last formal correspondence from the city was his letter placing him on leave. Urban has hired attorney Alexandria Drake at the law firm of Dunn & Black in Spokane and says he is exploring how to proceed.
Mayor Benjamin tells PRN that the city has received multiple communications from either Urban’s attorney or from Urban that he is not returning to the office. Benjamin says that the communications are being interpreted by the city that Urban has resigned. Benjamin refused to explain in what form those communications were received claiming that the information is confidential due to legal issues. When asked if there is any documentation of any kind proving that Urban has told the city that he is not returning to work Benjamin couldn’t acknowledge if any exist claiming legal issues. Urban tells PRN that neither he or his attorney ever told the city he is not returning to work.
Mayor Benjamin issued a statement Tuesday morning about the city’s apparent false claim that Urban resigned. Benjamin stated, “Mike is principled, ethical, caring and dependable. He consistently managed the competing interests of the organization, staff and community with dignity, grace and the utmost regard. Through Mike’s accomplishments and hard work, he leaves the city better than he found it.”
This is the latest in a string of misleading public statements from the City of Pullman and Mayor Benjamin regarding the working status of top administrators. It took officials weeks to acknowledge that Chief Opgenorth was on leave only saying initially that “a city staffer was on leave.” When Urban was placed on leave the city’s explanation was that he was “out of the office.” Only when welcoming him back to work last month did the city inform taxpayers that he was on leave.
Urban was appointed City Administrator in 2021 by Former Mayor Glenn Johnson. Prior to that he served as the City of Pullman’s Finance Director for two years.
The City of Pullman announced Tuesday that the search for a new permanent administrator will begin immediately. An interim city administrator will be named soon. The city’s Recreation Manager Megan Vining is currently working as Acting City Administrator.